Dow Chemical keeps growing in Bay County

Jon BeckerFor the Daily News

Published
2:00 am EDT, Saturday, April 21, 2018

The Dow Chemical Co. and MidMichigan Health were among the companies that last year invested $268 million in job-boosting projects in Bay County. Bay Future Inc., the public-private economic development agency, highlighted these and other 2017 accomplishments during its recent annual meeting.

Led by President/CEO Trevor Keyes, Bay Future played a prominent role in securing this business investment that created or secured 411 jobs, including more than 300 skilled worker positions.

"Bay Future is doing a great job under Trevor's guidance," said Auburn Mayor Lee Kilbourn, a member of Bay Future's Board of Directors. "There is a lot of interest in the Great Lakes Bay Region. While we would love to get every company that shows interest, we are getting some good ones, and Trevor is working hard with new companies that are interested. Great things are still to come."

"None of this investment and job creation happens without the catalog of high quality and world class companies that call our community home," Keyes said. "We are extremely fortunate to live, work, worship, and play in a community that understands the importance of partnership and growth."

Dow Chemical is establishing a $100 million Innovation Center at the Heritage Dow Corning Campus in Williams Township. When completed, the facility will house more than 200 scientists and engineers who will focus research and development activities on advancing solutions for home and personal care products, officials said.

MidMichigan Health also expanded its business blueprint in Bay County in 2017. The company is currently constructing a more than 19,000-square foot facility in Bangor Township. It will house primary and specialized care providers, offering services such as exams, therapy, radiology, and other services.

"Some of our largest and most steadfast companies made huge investments in our community, further cementing their commitment to our region," Keyes said. "2017 was a fantastic and big year for Bay Future Inc. and the Future is Now Campaign. This year, we are happy to report that through our second year we have exceeded the second- and third-year projections for capital investment and job creation."

The three-year plan aims to create 600 new jobs and secure $300 million of new capital investment in Bay County.

"Our target of 200 new jobs each year is not just any job," Keyes noted. "Living wage, sustainable working jobs. Jobs you can raise a family on, jobs that afford you the means in which to buy a new car, or a new house. Jobs that pay $19.25/hour, or $40,000 per year."

Other major projects getting underway locally last year include an industrial park in Williams Township, a new full-service living community in Bangor Township, and Consumer Energy's ambitious $27 million plan to return the site of its former J.C. Weadock Plant, on the mouth of the Saginaw River in Hampton Township, to a Brownfield, making it available for future reuse.

In addition, Bay County businesses secured over $12 million in government contracts -- more than 10 times more value than secured contracts in 2016.